Favourite Quotes

“Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always.” p. 7

Short Summary

  • Follows the life story of Mariam, an illegitimate teen from Herat who is forced to marry a man named Rasheed from Kabul after her mom dies
  • While Rasheed and Mariam are married, they have several miscarriages causing resentment and Rasheed abusing her
  • Their neighbor is a younger woman named Laila. Her mom is depressed due to losing both sons in the Soviet war
  • Laila is in love with a local boy named Tariq
  • The Afghan civil war breaks out and Tariq and his family move to Pakistan
  • Laila and Tariq have sex right before he leaves
  • A rocket hits Laila’s home and she is injured. Her parents are killed. Rasheed and Mariam take care of her
  • Eventually Rasheed marries her, to the disapproval of Mariam. Laila is pregnant with Tariq’s daughter so that’s why she agreed to the marriage. She convinces Rasheed this is his child. Laila is also informed that Tariq’s family is killed on their way to Pakistan.
  • Eventually Mariam and Laila become close friends and bond over the fact they are both abused by Rasheed. They both take care of Aziza, Laila’s daughter
  • They try to escape but the police catch them and they are heavily abused by Rasheed at home
  • Laila has a son, Zalmai. He’s born around the time Taliban take over
  • Due to lack of food, Rasheed forces Aziza to go to an orphanage. He forbids Laila to visit her
  • All of a Sudden Tariq comes back and reunites with Laila. Laila realizes that Rasheed setup the whole fake story of Tariq getting killed. Zalmai informs his dad that Laila had a male visitor
  • Rasheed is enraged and beats Laila to the point of near death. Mariam saves her by hitting Rasheed with a shovel, killing him.
  • Mariam decides to turn herself in so that Laila, Tariq, and the kids can escape. The Taliban execute her
  • Laila and Tariq escape to Pakistan and get married.
  • Eventually after the fall of the Taliban they move back to Afghanistan to help rebuild. Laila visits Mariam’s village in Herat and she’s given a box that Mariam’s father wanted to give his daughter. The box contains a letter where he expresses his regret and love for Mariam, wishing he had raised her as her own.
  • Laila becomes pregnant with a third and intends on naming her Mariam if it’s a girl.

Analysis

Notes & Quotes

Sacrifice

  • Mariam sacrificed herself to save Laila and the kids. She is content in her execution because she is glad that she got to experience true love and happiness during the years of living with Laila, especially since before that she was living a depressed life.
  • Mariam’s father didn’t sacrifice for her: he chose to neglect her because she was illegitimate, he didn’t want to tarnish her reputation
  • Although Mariam’s father did not sacrifice for her, that didn’t stop Mariam from sacrificing her life to save Laila

Mariam’s Character Arc

  • she was a poor illegitimate child. She was neglected
  • she was forced to get married and is angry, bitter, and resentful
  • she gets constantly abused by her husband Rasheed
  • when Rasheed decides to marry a second, Laila, Mariam ends up hating her
  • Eventually Mariam and Laila do become close friends
  • Mariam makes the ultimate sacrifice: her life in exchange of saving Laila and her kids

Main Idea of the Book

  • I think the author was trying to explain the tough life of Afghan living in those times under Taliban rule.
  • I think his main message or theme is that of sacrifice (see sacrifice section above)